JUNIOR doctors are on strike again today (Feb 10) with appointments and operations to be cancelled at Dorset County Hospital.

A nationwide strike is taking place due to a dispute over a new contract for junior doctors and DCH will once again be affected.

Junior doctors formed a picket line outside the hospital between 8am and 10am on the corner of Williams Avenue with a meet the doctors event on South Street from 10am.

The strike will last for 24 hours until 8am on Thursday.

Emergency services will be unaffected by the strike with the hospital saying plans are in place to ensure continued patient safety.

Doctors walked out over the contract dispute last month but no agreement has been reached meaning doctors are striking once again.

DCH said that as a result of the strike, six operations and 83 outpatient appointments have had to be rescheduled.

Doctors say that the new contract being proposed by the government will jeopardise patient care.

Speaking at the picket line, junior doctor Olivia Davies said the reaction had once again been positive.
Junior doctors at DCH have addressed patients and people around the county on why they are striking.

A statement read: "Junior doctors up and down the country are taking further industrial action on Wednesday, February 10.

"The reason for these strikes is that the government are threatening to impose a new contract on junior doctors which is unsafe for patients and unfair for doctors. The new contract would remove the current safeguards that are in place to prevent doctors working unsafe numbers of hours with dangerous staffing levels which would result in worse care for sick patients.

"We are proud to work in the NHS which is a world-class healthcare system, and in fact leads the world in efficiency and value for money in healthcare. We feel the people of the UK deserve healthcare which is free at the point of access and based on need, rather than social status, earnings or education.

"This new contract, if imposed as it stands is likely to be a major turning point for the NHS and we hope the government will recognise that was a country will not stand for something that will damage our NHS.

"We are fighting for an NHS which can continue to deliver the excellent healthcare, and we would invite you to join us in this campaign for our NHS."

DCH has said that people should assume their appointment is going ahead unless they hear otherwise.

A spokesperson said: “Our priority is minimising the impact any strike action has on our patients. All our departments have contingency plans in place and our aim is to run as many services as normal as possible.

“We can reassure people that emergency services will be unaffected and we have robust plans ready to ensure the continuing safety and care of patients in hospital.

“We are keeping in touch with patients potentially affected and will give them as much notice as possible if we have to reschedule their surgery or appointment.”